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APHIS Office - Taipei, Taiwan

The staff of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), in conjunction with our colleagues at the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Taipei office, represent the interests of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Taiwan.

U.S. agricultural exports to Taiwan totaled $3.2 billion in calendar year (CY) 2016 making Taiwan (an island of 23 million people) the 7th largest agricultural export market. Agricultural trade between the United States and Taiwan has created a vital role for APHIS ensuring that new trade opportunities are realized and that existing trade between the two economies flows smoothly. The APHIS Taiwan office maintains technical working relationships with animal and plant health regulatory counterparts in Taiwan to resolve Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) issues whenever they arise. This strong working relationship contributes to maintaining and promoting successful agricultural trade and commercial activities between the two economies.

In addition, our office maintains direct contact with industry trade groups, importers and exporters in order to assist and facilitate resolution of trade-related issues as they occur at ports of entry in Taiwan.

Finally, as a principle role of APHIS is to make sure the United States and our trading partners adhere to the SPS rules set forth by the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as the other relevant international standards-setting organizations, APHIS' role will continue to increase as the United States and Taiwan continue to expand their current trade relationships and establish new partnerships into the foreseeable future.

APHIS

About APHIS

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is a multifaceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues.

Location News

APHIS and Taiwan Agree to New Requirements for Bovine Serum

Nov. 19, 2018 - On October 22, Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) and APHIS reached agreement to finalize Taiwan’s amended quarantine requirements for the importation of bovine serum from the United States. With these amendments, age restrictions on the cattle from which the blood is collected are removed, and exporters of bovine serum are now permitted to collect blood from healthy donor bovine animals and utilize blood legally imported from an expanded subset of countries (both of which were previously prohibited). APHIS and BAPHIQ are currently finalizing the revised export health certificates for applicable bovine serum commodities and expect the new requirements to be fully implemented by January 1, 2019, resulting in expanded export opportunities.

Taiwan Accepts Systems Approval Approach for U.S. Pet Food

Nov. 19, 2018 - On November 1, more than 10 years since the initiation of the request, Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) accepted the implementation of a systems-approval approach for U.S. pet food facilities exporting dog and cat food to Taiwan without the need for a systems audit. Previously, BAPHIQ officials had indicated an on-site audit would be required prior to granting formal approval of the U.S. system. The former system of pet food facility approval involved onerous demands for facilities to submit information to Taiwan through the Pet Food Institute, followed by an on-site inspection by Taiwanese officials. The new system of approval requires pet food facilities to instead undergo an inspection and approval by APHIS Veterinary Services per mutually agreed criteria. Full implementation of this system is anticipated to occur over the coming months and will impact exports that totaled over $46 million in 2017.